BUTTERBEAN, the US heavyweight whose hands send men to sleep quicker than Stilnox, is on a mission.

"I wanna line up a fight with one of your professional footballers," the hulking American insists.

"My team are trying to sort it now ... but first I'm knocking out some other tough guy on Saturday."

Among the most recognisable fighters on the planet, Eric "Butterbean" Esch has asked his Australian fight promoter Vlad Warton - the man who oversaw the career of world champion Kostya Tszyu - to draw up a "hit list" of both current and retired leaguies capable of taking him on.

However, with the Alabama deputy sheriff tipping the scales at 191kg, even the heaviest league brawlers like Paul Gallen, Willie Mason, Manu Vatuvei and Sonny Bill Williams would be giving up the equivalent of a Volkswagen in weight.

"There's some talk of me coming back after this fight to challenge one of your footballers," reveals Esch, who fights Kirk Lawton at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre tomorrow night. "I'd love to make that happen.

"I watched the game on Wednesday night and while it would have been good to know the rules, it definitely seemed exciting."

Did he see any players worth fighting?"Honestly, I don't care who my opponents are," he says. "I've had over 200 fights, stepped in the ring with guys like Larry Holmes and never once checked footage on any of them.

Butterbean v Sonny Bill Williams would be an interesting match-up. Picture: David KellySource: The Courier-Mail

"They're just another human being to me ... and I've been knocking them out since I was first entering tough man competitions more than 20 years ago."

Now 46, the fighter known as "The King of the Four Rounders" has lost five of his past nine fights.

"But I'm still not sure there is anyone in the NRL capable of challenging The Bean," says Newcastle fighter Chad Bennett, who will be the main event on Saturday's card. "Vlad and I have been discussing it quite a lot this week. We'd love to bring Eric back to fight an NRL star ... but we're just not sure if anyone is up to it."

SOUTHS owner Russell Crowe has broken from tweeting his daily exercise regimen to also help Laurie Daley with the make-up of NSW for the decider. Among Crowe's tweets on Wednesday night were: "A. Reynolds, J. Sutton, N. Merritt automatic choices #NSW."

The Gladiator, surprisingly, also called for Canterbury skipper Michael Ennis to be returned to the side, adding: "In 7 losing series, NSW have taken pride in brawn ... QLD take pride in skills ... Skill is currently kicking the sh*t out of brawn #change."

Mundine: Don't ditch Nathan

NSW winger Nathan Merritt cops it from a Queensland fan during State of Origin II.Source: Getty Images

ANTHONY Mundine has weighed into the debate dividing a state - urging NSW coach Laurie Daley to retain Nathan Merritt on the wing for Origin III.

Having waited seven years for his sky blue jersey, Merritt's performance on Wednesday has generated as much discussion in bars and cyberspace as that Paul Gallen punch did following Origin I.

Asked about the two defensive lapses that led directly to Queensland tries, Mundine said: "No one is saying that Nath had a great night - he knows he was off his game. But that happens to everyone.

"And the important thing to remember, those defensive errors can be fixed. Nath was instructed to come in on Greg Inglis and, at the end of the day, he probably tried too hard. He could've assessed the situation better.

"But they're mistakes he will never, ever make again, I guarantee."

MERRITT RECALLS DOZE REECE FEET

Artwork: Scott "Boo" BaileySource: The Daily Telegraph

NATHAN Merritt is no stranger to the fast feet of Canberra fullback Reece Robinson - he used to cop them in his face while sleeping.

"Growing up, I actually lived for a few years with Reece and his family in Waterloo," Merritt explains of his Friday Night Football rival. "We're first cousins and during my early years at Souths they took me in so I could be nice and close to training.

"Sometimes I'd sleep on their couch but mostly I'd just go top-to-toe with one the cousins. There was Reece, Travis who now plays with Penrith and their older brother too.

"I guess that's one of the benefits of having great family ... you can sleep pretty much anywhere."

After an unfortunate Origin debut at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night, Souths flyer Merritt is determined to bounce straight back tonight against a Canberra side boasting cousin Reece.

The Blues winger has known the twins since way back in the days when, to separate them, mum used to shave an 'R' and 'T' into their respective heads. In another twist, the Robinsons' step-dad Darren Champion - who is also the father of Souths centre Beau - used to coach Merritt in the juniors at both La Perouse and Alexandria Rovers.

"Nath used to play up an age group so he could play with his cousins," Darren recalls.

"Actually, the year I told him to go back and play in his own age group, to really excel, he got so upset we almost lost him from the game.

"Eventually, though, he came back up again and he was outstanding. "Before games I'd tell the boys 'just go out there and put on a show'. We had Reni Maitua as well and won a couple of premierships that way."

GALLEN AND CO. BEATEN TO PUNCH BY TURTLES

PAUL Gallen may be turning your son to violence - but imagine if the NSW skipper were wielding nunchucks.

With Origin players currently being blamed for every playground stink from Bondi to Bourke, this column decided to compare 80 minutes of interstate footy with the equivalent TV time involving those green rogues otherwise known as The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

And Dave Smith, we hope you're sitting down.

Because according to our special investigation - run in conjunction with the Cartoon Network - we can reveal those four rampaging reptiles used the equivalent of a State of Origin encounter to bang out 64 punches, eight kicks, six headbutts and three bites. There were also another 10 car rammings, three headlocks and a dozen manhole covers thrown at speed - the last of which hit a rival fair in the "wheels".

Chuck in a further 15 gunfights and two severed limbs, both by sword, and you've got an evening Gallen and co. only dream about.

WESTS Tigers winger Taqele Naiyaravaro boasts such a safe set of hands, he recently delivered his first child. After taking wife Ethal to hospital, and then being told to go home because she wasn't ready, the Fijian flyer quickly found himself playing doctor.

According to teammates, Big "T" was on the phone to the ambulance people when they asked if he could see the head. "The head?" he replied. "The baby is out".

BIG weekend brewing for the footballers from Milton Ulladulla.

Despite existing in the relative anonymity of Group 7, the south coast battlers are now the only bush team anywhere in the state to remain undefeated.

Should their streak continue, they'll become the first side in the club's history to secure the Clayton Cup - awarded to the best performed bush team.

It started: "The embarrassment from being frogmarched from a bar will be overlooked if the most successful coach in Origin history can level the series."

NOW AND THEN - MARK THE MAGPIE

MARK the Magpie still gets an occasional pain in his shoulder.

"Courtesy of a drunk spectator," he grins. "He jumped the fence, lifted and speared me into the turf. I damaged my shoulder, my ribs and finished up in hospital."

Sitting now in his Sydney stockbroking office, Mark Wallington is recounting the greatest career of any mascot in Australian sport.

For 25 years this anonymous rugby league icon not only led his beloved Western Suburbs Magpies, he defined them.

Starting out as a volunteer cook at Lidcombe, he took on the Magpie role in 1978 - "I think they wanted to shut me up more than anything" - and, overnight, became a sensation. There were school fetes, charity dinners, hospital visits, even shopping centre appearances. "We made up a costume for my son too," he recalls.

"But Luke started taking all the attention, (laughs) I had to let him go."

"When the Magpies were going bad, I felt the need to get more involved," he recalls. "So I took up ballroom dancing and added it to my routine."

When the Magpies folded, Wallington stayed on for three years in the Wests Tigers suit before retiring.

"But then in '05, the club asked if I'd do the Grand Final in my old magpie outfit ... I can never thank them enough for giving me that day," he says.

Today, Wallington still goes to Wests Tigers games and admits to amassing a vast array of collectables from his time as the Magpie.

"I've also collected every league magazine from 1974 on," he enthused.

FIVE TO THE FORE

5 REF BASHING

Has now become more predictable than a Phil Tufnell over. Yes, whistleblowers make mistakes. But not so many as the sides bagging them.

4 BRETT FINCH

If you think being stripped of an NRL premiership is painful, spare a thought for Gareth Widdop and the dislocated hip now gifting Finchy another crack with Melbourne.

3 DINOSAURS

No, not T-Rex but those of us who still believe there's nothing wrong with the occasional blue, barney, stink, stoush, scuffle and set-to.

2 EELS FANS

Yes, we may struggle against the bye this weekend. But take heart Blue And Gold Army, from August 1 we can all disappear back in time with the new release Eelectric: The Story Of Parramatta Eels' Golden Era.

1 BRETT STEWART

Like his namesake from The Simpsons, Snake will be looking to be at his evasive best if he is cleared to play the Chooks in Monday Night Footy.

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